Arrived in Duluth

[bcgr]

Originally Posted by knke0204

Most people have the attitude of the guy who responded to my last post .. "Please not EVERYBODY, the roads were too busy"

Well that costs me money, gas isn't free,- yesterday's "Sidewalk Days" were far worse it, took me 15 min. to drive two blocks on Michigan St. to work and ended up late. So now I have to leave nearly an extra half hour to get to work today/tomorrow and waste more gas.

Also, in Canal Park isnt there a tourism tax?

The tourism tax taxes everywhere in Duluth and I would bet that most of the money made off it isn't even paid by tourists-most of the money comes from the food/beverage side and when I go to any restaurant I have to pay it. And whereas most tourists only pay on "trips to Duluth" I have to pay it year-round along with everyone else living here.

Not everyone here wants to turn Duluth into the next Cancun especially when the "attractions" are a waste of millions of dollars like the Aquarium and our services are cut, huge city layoffs, and taxes raised instead.

[knke0204]

Originally Posted by bcgr

Well that costs me money, gas isn't free,- yesterday's "Sidewalk Days" were far worse it, took me 15 min. to drive two blocks on Michigan St. to work and ended up late. So now I have to leave nearly an extra half hour to get to work today/tomorrow and waste more gas.

The tourism tax taxes everywhere in Duluth and I would bet that most of the money made off it isn't even paid by tourists-most of the money comes from the food/beverage side and when I go to any restaurant I have to pay it. And whereas most tourists only pay on "trips to Duluth" I have to pay it year-round along with everyone else living here.

Not everyone here wants to turn Duluth into the next Cancun especially when the "attractions" are a waste of millions of dollars like the Aquarium and our services are cut, huge city layoffs, and taxes raised instead.

It's called the trickle-down effect...

During busy weekends restaraunts call for more employees who get larger paychecks. Chances are that with the extra money from that weekend will give that person more spending power. One can assume that if you work in Duluth, you probably live near or in Duluth, and your income can be spent on things or places in Duluth.

[aluminumpork]

Indeed, in general, I'm very happy when we have traffic jams and packed side walks. It means people, whether from Duluth or not are in town, doing things and spending money.

[knke0204]

Originally Posted by aluminumpork

Indeed, in general, I'm very happy when we have traffic jams and packed side walks. It means people, whether from Duluth or not are in town, doing things and spending money.

Can't tell if its serious or sarcasm, but if it's serious I agree. Plus it's not even THAT busy, unless you are in canal park. Having people visit your city is great, especially Duluth, because it is safe to say that everyone who has ever been there can say its absolutly gorgeous. That alone gives it a reputation and creates a ''buzz'' which may entice people to move there, which wouldnt hurt the city unless moving there causes more problems than generating tax base and sales tax. This also applies to Business and Business owners.

Unfortunatly, Duluth has been known to being the new home to 'Chicago Trash'...I didn't say it, it's just a ignorant perception that many believe.

[aluminumpork]

I wasn't being sarcastic. It genuinely puts a smile on my face when there's a traffic jam (and I'm in it) at Lake and Superior because something is going on in Canal Park.

[Minnesota Erickson]

Both are true depending on the weather.

[tvdxer]

Originally Posted by bcgr

Please not everyone "come up" - that's way too many people; on Friday when I was going to work at 5pm on Michigan St. in downtown, there was a traffic jam - there of all places. And there were just tons of people waltzing around downtown. It was a all rather annoying.

What's annoying about that? Is the presence of people on the streets not a good thing?

[bcgr]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

What's annoying about that?

It wastes gas, and it means a much greater chance of hitting someone, and those "sidewalk Days" got me late for work-and then its plain annoying how much the city is willing to spend trying to attract tourists especially when it doesn't spend barely any money on its own residents.

Originally Posted by tvdxer

Is the presence of people on the streets not a good thing?

It certainly doesn't help me any.

Originally Posted by aluminumpork

It genuinely puts a smile on my face when there's a traffic jam (and I'm in it)

Opposite in my case-there probably is no other time I yell and so many swear words come flying from my mouth.

Originally Posted by aluminumpork

It means people, whether from Duluth or not are in town, doing things and spending money.

I'm rather skeptical as to how many people at events here are actually from here because most people I know -even those that have lived here all their lives have never been to the marathon or bluesfest, like me. And the ones that I know have gone to such things ended up hating it or that whichever event was "nothing special." To me and tons of other people the marathon day is a day to especially avoid downtown and just sit around home. Also, why are you so concerned about everyone splurging all their money? Most people don't have truckloads of money they can fork over everyday.

Originally Posted by knke0204

It's called the trickle-down effect...

Money certainly does trickle down....in itsy bitsy droplets. Gosh you need an electron microscope to see them.

Originally Posted by knke0204

During busy weekends restaraunts call for more employees who get larger paychecks. Chances are that with the extra money from that weekend will give that person more spending power.

Busboys and other restaurant workers are paid how well? The city doesn't need more restaurant and tourist jobs- it needs more stable and better paying ones. So you say these workers will make a few extra bucks on weekends that are busy, but you should also look at how much "spending power" is drained from everyone else because the city tacks on more taxes to build DECC expansions and cuts off city workers and services to pay for attracting tourists. Actually that reminds me of a funny but accurate sign I saw cleaning out a union office last week. It read:
"Ness's Duluth:
Open for tourists
Closed for residents"

Originally Posted by knke0204

One can assume that if you work in Duluth, you probably live near or in Duluth, and your income can be spent on things or places in Duluth.

Are you just pointing out the obvious or is there something I'm missing?